Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1887-04-04
Marriage in Persia.
GREAT IMPORTANCE OF THE MoTHER-N
LAW IN THAT COUNTRY.

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In Persia a girl marries to fill the place
of her husbands confidant and friend; to
rule his household, and above all things,
to be a mother of children. The marriages
OF the rich are generally dictated by pol
lev; while those Of the middle and lower
classes are often arranged by the parents.
Love matches are the exception. Persiars
as rule Try to arrange what they consider
suitable matches for their children. Polyg-
amy is the exception and not the rule and
where there are two or more wives there
are also two or more establishments
Neither LODGINGS money, servants clothes,
nor jewels are held in common, and the
only source OF contention is the society of
the husband. But the wives, instead Of
being jealous rivals, are usually the best
of friends.
While it is quite true that theoretically
a man can be rid of his wife bv saying
before witnesses, Thou art divorced"
yet practically to obtain divorce in Persia
is almost as difficult as it is in Europe. In
Persia the poorest of women does not mar
ry without settlement which has to be
made good in case of divorce and at her
marriage her relatives exact from the hus-
band an acknowledgment of far larger
portion than is actually paid to him. 1t is
the liability to pay this, the "mehr," that
Restraints the husband from divorce save
on The strongest grounds. In cases where
mutual distasie is very strong. and divorce
desired by both parties, the matter is sim
ply arranged by the wife agreeing not to
exact the whole or even part of her set
Element. There is another safe guard
or friy
or woman does not find it easy to make a
respectable marriage.
The marriage of first cousins is the fav-
orite union. The reason is that cousins
have been acquaintance and friends from
childhood. while to all the rest of the
world. save her brothers and sisters, the
young girl is yelled my stery; so that
unless there is a mutual disinclination, or
too great disparity of age, the Persian
youth looks naturally to the daughter OF
my uncle" as his future wife Often the
cousins are betrohed from childhood. As
a rule. classes do not mingle in marriage
The sons of merchants wed merchants
daughters, the young tradesman mates
with his like, and SO with the members of
the servant and soldier classes
But in Persia, as everywhere else, ex-
traoTuihary personal attractions soon be-
come known and have their advantage.
The beauty of the lower or middle classes
need not aspire in vain. The mother OF
the Kings eldest and favorite son the
most powerful man in Persia. was the
daughter of a miller. who caught the
Shah's eye while washing clothes at the
brook side. Many a poor and handsome
girl is welded without portion for her
beauty's sake.
The young wife does not Immediately
assume the responsibilities of her position
Carefully tended as ii bride for the first
year of her welded life, she willingly re-
mains under the tutelage OF her mother-in-
law, il she has one, or if she be the daugh-
ter of a widow her mother usually accom-
, panies her to her new establishment.
: Mothers-in-law have better time in Per-
STA than in other countries There they
are regarded as the natural guardians of
the inexperienced bride. and the proper
care-takers of the young mother and her
infant offspring. From the mother-in-law
are learned the arts of housekeeping
Under her eyes all purchases are made
from the huckster or female peddler, for
a visit to the bazaar by young wife be-
fore she has blessed her husband with
children would be considered scandal